I couldn't take it any longer. How could any self-respecting Alabama native not have caught a redeye? Redeye bass, one of the smallest black bass, are often called the brook trout of Alabama. Arrived to find that the weatherman is full of it, as usual.
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210154.jpg

I arrived on the water with but one goal in mind and it was to catch redeye bass. I tied on one of my trusty one bugs that I tied and began the float.
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210068.jpg

I get to the point where I am almost guaranteed a redeye strike. Cast. Bam! My first.....oh, just a longear....
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210043.jpg

I go quite a ways before even getting another strike. I keep casting and I feel like something is watching me.
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210004.jpg

He kept a watchful eye on me until I was out of sight. I keep casting into typical "redeye spots." Then a tiny torpedo hit the one bug at lightning speed, I actually jumped a little. A few jumps and my first redeye bass.
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210016.jpg

Thanked him and sent him on his way..
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210035.jpg

This creek is loaded with variety. I have never caught one of these before either. A shadow bass..
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210054.jpg

I see some more rocks coming up. I get in position and get ready to make my first cast.
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210055.jpg

I can just see the redeye I am about to fool. Cast. Wait, what the? Son of a....
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210059.jpg

That trend continued all day. I would get into prime water, and my cast would be ruined by poor line management, trees, you name it. This creek was small and not conducive to casting. I probably only fished 30% of the water I wanted. For the most part it was one cast to make it count and move on to the next spot.

A couple miles down and I see a tree bent over the water. There has to be a fish there. I cast right under it, without error miraculously, and I see the redeye hit. He bulldogs down and I try to strip it in and my line goes slack. Nooo!!!!!!!! I paddle back upstream and anchor to a rock and make a dozen casts before he hits again.
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210071.jpg

Man these things are beautiful.
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210075.jpg

This is one of the most scenic creeks I have floated...
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210109.jpg

Another one..
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210111.jpg

Back in ya go...
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210118.jpg

Last one of the day....
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210137.jpg

I'm content just to float the last stretch...
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210139.jpg

This was weird. I thought raccoons could swim...
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210144.jpg

It was a good day and although no giants were caught, ANY redeye is a trophy to me. Something special in the Alabama waters for sure and I'm glad I finally got to share it.
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k534/mrl0004/P4210152.jpg

buzzmcmanus

04-22-2012, 07:42 AM

Great report! The more of these warmwater reports I read, the less I want to trout fish.

No Hackle

04-22-2012, 08:11 AM

Those are some beautiful fish. I love any kind of bass. What part of Alabama are you in. I was in Fort Payne and went to the Little River do you know if there are any in there. Great report. Thanks for sharing.
Lynn

AL trout bum

04-22-2012, 08:34 AM

Lynn they are prevalent in the coosa drainage as well as some of the TN drainage. They inhabit only smaller flows and are intolerant to pollution. I was fishing around Gadsden, AL, but where I live in Madison I am unaware of any. If it's the Little River canyon you were at, they do have redeyes. Nice population of them in fact. Having fished much there, but it's on the list!

Troutman

04-22-2012, 10:35 AM

Love the big red eyes on those bass. Looks like the kind of stream a small 3-4 wt rod is made for. nice post.

MadisonBoats

04-22-2012, 10:42 AM

Very nice report with excellent pictures! Great Job and I enjoyed reading about your day. Those red eyes are amazing in color detail...

Waterborn

04-22-2012, 11:39 AM

Great post...looks like your on your way to dialing it in... really digging the halo on the fins and the cool camo-ing of the shadow bass... the beauty is definitely in the details... Glad you got out and were able to explore something new.

AL trout bum

04-22-2012, 01:20 PM

Thanks guys. These small fish remind me so much of brook trout. Mainly in their small size but breathtaking colors. They inhabit the same type of streams: upland, small, clear, un-polluted, etc.

Troutman, they fight just like a smallie. If I ever hook into a true trophy (anything over a pound), I think it might win the contest for toughest fighting black bass! :biggrin:

Bfish

04-23-2012, 12:15 AM

Lynn they are prevalent in the coosa drainage as well as some of the TN drainage. Coosa Bass (aka Redeye) are NOT native to the TN drainage so if found in the TN drainage they have been transported there. Coosa Bass are native to the state of TN (as it has some drainage to the Coosa in SE TN).

Randy Ratliff

04-23-2012, 09:01 AM

Nice looking water and fishes!!!

AL trout bum

04-23-2012, 01:18 PM

Coosa Bass (aka Redeye) are NOT native to the TN drainage so if found in the TN drainage they have been transported there. Coosa Bass are native to the state of TN (as it has some drainage to the Coosa in SE TN).

Not sure what the intent of this post was, but they actually they are. Where I caught them, TN river drainage, they were not stocked. When I was in grad school at Auburn (in fisheries) we studied them. But thanks for sharing your opinion.

chip

08-26-2012, 08:02 PM

There are lots of redeye in little river! Wills Creek that runs through Fort Payne also has a great redeye population. I have lived and fished this area all my life . I was Ag teacher at fort Payne HS for 35 years until I retired this year. Wills creek runs through the middle of my farm and I have enjoyed wading and flyfishing for them for years.